The Hindu : Front Page : Budhia undergoes medical check-up

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 06, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Budhia undergoes medical check-up

Prafulla Das

BHUBANESWAR: As criticism mounted from various quarters that the running ability of Budhia Singh was being exploited beyond limits, the authorities organised a medical check-up of the child runner by a team of medical experts here on Friday.

Budhia was picked up by a team of policemen from the Orissa State Judo Association on the orders of the Child Welfare Committee of Khurda district. He was examined at the government-run Capital hospital in the presence of an Executive Magistrate, officials of the Child Welfare Committee and his coach Biranchi Das.

Apparently unaware of the controversy over his coach's intention behind making him run at his will, the child prodigy appeared to be in a state of shock when he came out of the hospital after the medical examination.

The team that examined Budhia's health condition included a medical expert from the Sports Authority of India's Kolkata Centre. Budhia and his coach were dropped back at the Judo Association after two hours.

State Women and Child Development Minister Pramila Mallick told The Hindu that the report of the expert committee was expected to reach the Government in two days.

"If the report indicates that Budhia's talent is being exploited at the cost of his health condition, we will initiate action against those who are making him run long distances at frequent intervals,"

Ms. Mallick said. "Budhia should not be made to run like this at all. It is inhuman to make a child of his age to run distances up to 65 km. He is being harassed," she said.

"Budhia should be groomed by a professional agency such as the Sports Authority of India," she said. Ms. Mallick has been fighting a war of sorts with Biranchi Das who has since adopted the boy.

But confusion continues to prevail over the State Government's stand. Minister for Sports and Youth Services Debasis Nayak was present on the occasion when Budhia Singh reached Bhubaneswar completing his 65 km run from Puri in 7.02 a.m. on Tuesday. Mr. Nayak also attended a party that was organised the next day evening to celebrate Budhia's selection for an entry into the record books.

Biranchi Das, however, is not happy over the day's development.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail